Countries: Data and Regulations

European Countries
This section gives reference detail about the various countries bordering European waters, and describes local peculiarities to consider when cruising, whether concerning personal visas or yacht permissions.Much will depend on which group of European countries you're dealing with, so these groupings are described below.The left menu leads you to details about individual countries.

The Groups!

There are five groups of countries to consider. The blue links open new windows with further information about each group.

  1. The European Union (EU) is best known. It is a common market of some 27 countries whose citizens may travel freely within the group.
  2. The European Economic Area (EEA) adds Iceland and Norway to the EU free trade area
  3. The Euro Area comprises 16 EU countries which share a common currency, the Euro (€)
  4. The Schengen Agreement is between 22 EU countries, plus Norway and Iceland and Switzerland. All share common border control. Enter any one, and you move freely among them all - subject only to any visa restrictions on your period of stay within the group. A typical visa issued at the border to a 'friendly' national will be valid for any 90 days within a 180 day period. Note that UK and Ireland are not part of the Schengen agreement
  5. Non-EU Countries - Vessels. Vessels visiting non-EU countries will normally have to pay for some type of cruising permission, which will have limited duration. This will not necessariily co-incide with your visa timing.
  6. Non-EU Countries - Visas. Depending on your citizenship, each non-EU country has its own rules about personal entry and exit, controlled by visas. Visas may be just a passport stamp given on entry; however, some countries require permission in advance. Ask your appropriate embassy for details, which change from time to time. The Foreign Office web site gives current travel advice for UK nationals. In the list following, countries in bold italics require UK nationals (Apr 2010) to obtain visas before arrival. If you arrive without a visa when it is required (say, due to emergency) you will normally be confined to the port area, maybe told to leave within some time limit.
  • Baltic: Russia
  • Atlantic Europe: Channel Islands are outside the EU and the customs union; Gibraltar is inside the EU but outside the customs union; Isle of Man is outside the EU, but inside the cutoms union. Norway, within Schengen, part of the EEA, but not in the EU, has limitations on the length of stay for EU vessels.
  • West Mediterranean: Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia
  • Adriatic: Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania
  • East Mediterranean: Turkey, North Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Libya


Some Special Cases

  • EU residents who own vessels registered outside the EU VAT zones (Gibraltar, Channel Islands, and all other countries outside the EU) may find their ability to cruise these vessels within the EU limited to 1 month (exceptionally more) unless VAT is proven paid.
  • When Leaving or entering the EU, all vessels should fly the Q flag when within 12nm of the destination coastline. The Channel Islands and Norway are outside the EU. 
  • Non-EU boats can renew their EU cruising permissions for a further 18 months if they prove their boat has been temporarily  berthed outside the EU. 
  • Documents showing you have visited Israel or N Cyprus may result in their neighbours refusing you entry.
  • Israel, Syria will not normally allow you to enter territorial waters (12nm off the coast) without prior notification.
  • Algeria and Libya will often investigate vessels within 12nm of their coastlines
  • Specific Countries. Country data pages (reached through the left menu or links in text) contain boring but essential reference material - dialling codes, time zones, currency, ATM availability and any unusual local boating regulations which may affect cruisers.

 

 

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